IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
© IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 13 Issue 2 Pages 56 - 98 (October 1996)

OSG News
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Padma K. de Silva
Department of Zoology, University Peradenyia, Peradenyia, Sri Lanka

During 15-16 March 1996, OSG members (Asian chapter) from eight countries, namely India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand met at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Banglok, Thailand, to discuss matters pertaining to otter conservation in Asia. The meeting was convened by the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group (Asian Chapter) and the Otter Research Group in Japan. It was hosted by the IUCN-South and Southeast Asia Regional Co-ordination Office in Bangkok.

The main objectives of the meeting were as follows:

1. To identify the present status of otters in Asia, particularly in countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Korea, Myanmar where there is a dearth of information on otters.
2. To discuss research priorities and prepare a draft work plan for conservation of otters in Asia.
3. To discuss the proposed OSG meeting scheduled to be held in November 1996 in Japan as part of the 2nd International Symposium on the Co-existance of Large Carnivores with Man.
4. To set up a secretariat in the region to strengthen the network among those keen on otter research and conservation.

Information pertaining to otter conservation in various countries in the region was presented by the participants. Much attention was paid to fund raising activities for otter research and the implementation of the Otter Action Plan, which was drawn up a few years ago. Research priorities were listed for discussion at the OSG meeting in Japan. It was decided to include new members from Asian countries, where the OSG is not represented at present. Sri Lanka was unanimously decided as the venue of the proposed Otter secretariat in the region. The proceedings of the meeting are beeing edited by Dr. Charles Santiapillai (University of Peradenyia, Sri Lanka). Dr. Hiroshi Sasaki, General Secretary of the Japanese Otter Group will publish them in the near future.

The OSG, subsequently, met on 22 November 1996 during the 2nd International Symposium on the Co-existance of Large Carnivores with Man held from 19-23 November in Tokyo. The regional co-ordinators of Europe, North America, South America and several other members from the Asian region attended this meeting. As decided earlier in Bangkok, the establishment of the IUCN/SSC Otter Secretariat (Asian Section) in Sri Lanka was confirmed. The Japanese NGO group, Friends of Japanese otters (FJO) extended it´s full support to the establishment of the Secretariat, which will come into operation from January, 1997.

Regarding otter research in the region, the members felt that the general surveys of otters in various countries, where there is a dearth of information on otters, should be given priority. Also it was decided to give special consideration for research on rare species of otters such as Lutra sumatrana, of which hardly any information is available.

The opportunity was also taken to review the progress made for the VIIth International Otter Colloquium, which is scheduled to be held in 1997. After lengthy discussions, the venue of the colloquium was changed to Poland and Claus Reuther, the director of the Otter Centrum, Hankensbüttel, Germany undertook the responsibility for convening the colloquium in Poland. The time and location of the colloquium will be notified in due course.

Lastly, on behalf of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Hiroshi Sasaki and Motokazo Ando of the Japanese Otter Group, Japan, for their enthusiasm and untiring efforts in organizing the two OSG meetings in Thailand and Japan.

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